Rising Irish stars at pre-Oscars Oscar Wilde bash
Lenny Abrahamson, the Academy Award-nominated director of , and Cork-born actress, Sarah Greene, were among those honoured at the Oscar Wilde Awards bash, organised by the US-Ireland Alliance and hosted by Star Wars director JJ Abrams at his Bad Robot production company headquarters in Santa Monica, near Hollywood.
The boutique event, renowned for its intimacy and casual setting, is one of the hottest tickets during Oscar week.
Abrahamson shot to fame for directing, , and the 2012 movie which launched the career of Jack Reynor. He also directed , starring Michael Fassbender, Domhnall Gleeson, and Maggie Gyllenhall, in 2014.
He is now nominated for an Oscar for directing , a movie which is also in the running for Best Picture, with Brie Larson up for Best Actress in a Leading Role, and Emma Donoghue nominated in the Writing-Adapted Screenplay category.
Trina Vargo, the founder of the US-Ireland Alliance said, while Abrahamson was known in Ireland and certain film circles, it is great to see him get deserved recognition on an international stage.
Sarah Greene, who received Laurence Olivier and Tony award nominations for best actress in a supporting role alongside Daniel Radcliffe in Martin McDonagh’s The Cripple of Inishmaan, was also honoured as a rising Irish star.
She picked up the rising star and the best supporting role awards at the 2015 Irish Film and Television Awards for her portrayal of a young Christina Noble in Stephen Bradley’s film Noble.
She is also known for her roles in and and in the TV shows, , and , which is due for release on Sundance in the US later this year.
Ms Vargo said they honoured Saoirse Ronan some years ago before she became a global star.
“Sarah is in a similar position where all I can say is, watch this space,” she said.
“She already has an impressive career in theatre and television in Ireland and the UK and she is now deservedly being noticed in the US.”
Snow Patrol, James Corden, and Daisy Ridley, one of the stars of, were also honoured at last night’s event, which featured a performance by Irish singer, Roísín O.
The Irish film industry is gearing up for what could be one of its most successful Oscar nights ever, with nine nominations in total — a record number.
, directed by Cork-born John Crowley, is also nominated in the Best Picture category.
Michael Fassbender is nominated for Best Actor for his portrayal of Steve Jobs in the film of the same name, and Saoirse Ronan has been nominated for Best Actress for her role in .
